Burda 08-2005-119

Yesterday I called myself to a halt. All those new patterns were in my head (do you have that too when you buy new patterns?), and I wanted to start right away with new patterns and fabrics. But there are a few unfinished projects and I really must finish these first, because otherwise they will be either unfinished or hang around my sewing room for too long, so that I'm bored by the pattern/fabric before I get a chance to wear it.

One of the projects to finish is the striped blouse. This is Burda pattern 08-2005-119.


















In the magazine picture it seems very low cut, but tissue fitting the front made me think it was ok. Yesterday evening I finished the front and back, and though it is not very high, it is fine with me. Tonight I'll be going to my sewing class, making a swimsuit, so hope to finish this project this weekend.

Stripes :-) or :-(

My serger is not yet repaired, pity, as there are some things I want to finish. And I'm so used to sew or finish clothes with my serger, that I'll wait till it is back.

And as it is more like autumn here in Europe than summer (fierce storms, flooding because of continuous rain and a temperature that makes you think winter is coming), I started with a blouse with long sleeves! It is a beautiful quality cotton with stripes bought online from a German store, Exclusive Stoffe. I certainly like these stripes, but as I'm a bit (too?) precise about cutting stripes, it took me a long time to cut it.

First issue: the stripes are not symmetrical. The pattern did not require pattern pieces on the fold, so I cut the fabric in half, turned and layed them so that the pattern pieces will be symmetrical (just because I liked to, really not necessary).

Second issue: you can not cut the fabric in two layers at once, if you want the stripes to match. I more or less laid the fabric with the same stripes on each other, but know that this never workes over 2 meters of fabric.
I cut the first fabric layer, then re-pin all pattern pieces so that the stripes match and cut the second layer of fabric. It is the moment that I'm always thinking that I should stick to plain fabric, flowers or anything not requiring matching fabric. But I'm uncurable, more stripes in the stash for this autumn!

Now all pattern pieces have to be marked, which again takes extra time with securing the stripes. I'll do that tomorrow, using copier papier as described in an earlier post.
Below two pictures of the process: 1. after cutting the first layer, 2.